Track chatter
The latest quotes, quips and comments from Sprint Cup Series drivers in the garage area at Dover International Speedway.
Tony Stewart
Last week you mentioned getting rid of "dead weight." Does that mean sometimes it's easier to drive when you have outside distractions over your head?
"I think the last two weeks have proven I don't care what the distractions are. I can focus on what I need to focus on."
What do you mean by that, "distractions?"
"Anything. Dealing with you guys is a distraction, but we can still go do what we need to do."
There are a lot of people saying Jimmie Johnson is 10th in points, he's out of it. Do you overlook him still at this point?
"I'm not even looking at any of the 11 guys. I'm worrying about what we're doing with our car honestly and not worrying about where everybody else is at. We got to go out and do our job. If we don't do our job, it doesn't matter where they're at or who it is. It's irrelevant if we don't go do what we do."
Kevin Harvick
Are you surprised by what Tony Stewart has been able to do with two straight wins?
"Well, obviously that is the way you would want to script it out, if you were going to script it out. Those guys have got off to a good start and to be able to win the first two races is the best way to make up ground and to make maximum points. We just have to keep doing what we are doing and concentrate on the little things and go from there."
At what point do you start focusing on the points standings?
"I mean, you do every week. Anybody who tells you they are not paying attention to the points is lying. You go out and you try to gain the maximum points every week, and you want to know who is around you to know what you need to do as far as the points goes. It is a weekly battle, for sure."
Brad Keselowski
Tony Stewart mentioned losing "dead weight" last week. Were you curious at all?
"No. I really don't know Tony all that well, so it's hard for me to really comment on what he was talking about."
Is that just a mental aspect of racing?
"I think that's the whole year, not just the Chase. You've got to continue to limit your distractions to perform at a high level, any of your 'dead weight,' no matter what it is. I don't know what he meant by it. Obviously, it's doing something for him."
Carl Edwards
Is the winner of this Chase going to be more lucky than good?
"I don't think it's luck. I don't think a pit call is luck. I think it's easier to make that risky call when you're in 10th and you haven't done anything all day and you think, 'Hey, why not? Let's take two tires or no tires, or let's gamble.' It is easier, but, yes, I do feel like we're at a time in this sport right now where the fastest car probably wins a lesser percentage of the races than they used to because it is harder to pass and it is more dependent on your strategy."
Jeff Gordon
Are we seeing uncharacteristic things from the No. 48 team (Jimmie Johnson) now?
"As far as the No. 48, it doesn't matter. They have gotten off to slow starts in the Chase before and they do miraculous things, so you can't ever count them out, and I wouldn't count them out this year either. To me, this is a big weekend for them. This is a track that he really gets around well. That team does well here, so they can get themselves right back in it in a hurry."
